PENANG, 20 April 2009: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will set up a Family Support Centre in Selayang, Selangor to help overcome family-related problems in that area.
Its deputy minister, Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, said the centre was expected to be operational this June and it was a pioneering project which would be repeated at other areas in the future.
“The centre would be maintained by the National Population and Family Development Board Malaysia with the cooperation of various non-governmental organisations to provide advice, counselling and therapy,” she told reporters here today after officiating a one-day seminar titled ‘Family Discourse: Study Based on Proof’ organised together with the Doha International Institute.
Chew said the present global economic crisis could lead to more family-problems cases given that many such cases stemmed from financial deficiency.
“Selayang was picked on the advice of the police following many problems like abuse, divorces and runaways in the area,” she said.
Chew said the Family Support Centre would have a clinic and volunteers offering their services to abused persons and those with HIV.
She said the centre would also be a community centre for people seeking solutions to problems in their daily lives.
“We hope that the centre would reduce pressures on sections of society who face problems,” she said. — Bernama
